Dozens of Planned Parenthood clinics will strengthen their security measures in the wake of last week’s deadly assault in Colorado Springs, Colo.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has instructed state police officers to meet with Planned Parenthood officials at each of the state’s 60 clinics to discuss security and emergency planning. Police patrol will be increased as necessary, he said.
{mosads}”While we are still learning more about what led to this horrendous attack in Colorado, we are taking appropriate precautions and doing everything possible to prevent similar tragedies from taking place in our state,” Cuomo said in a statement.
Clinics elsewhere are also reevaluating security, and many have been doing so since before last weekend’s shooting, in which three people were killed and nine injured.
One Planned Parenthood clinic near Detroit cancelled an event for World AIDS Day on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
Planned Parenthood’s national organization has been the target of an anti-abortion “sting” campaign since July, prompting a new wave of death threats against some clinicians and officials.
“We increased security over the last few months as inflammatory rhetoric about Planned Parenthood increased. While we do not disclose specific security measures, some health centers have increased patrols from dedicated security guards, while others have upgraded their monitoring systems,” Eric Ferrero, the organization’s vice president for communications, wrote in a statement.
Ferrero said Planned Parenthood staff is specifically trained in security protocols, which helped staff members in Colorado Springs to “prevent this tragedy from being far worse than it was.”
Police have declined to discuss a motive and have disclosed little information about alleged shooter Robert Dear.
Several outlets have reported that the man declared “no more baby parts” during his arrest — a remark that would indicate a direct link between the deadliest strike against an abortion clinic in six years and this summer’s online video campaign against Planned Parenthood.